Mapping Mountains – Trimble Surveys – Yr Eifl

03.10.18  Moel y Penmaen (SH 338 386)  

As I drove north from Yr Orsedd (SH 299 270) toward Moel y Penmaen the morning’s sunshine had been replaced with a flat greying sky which had pushed eastward blanketing the higher hills. 

Approaching Moel y Penmaen Aled directed us to the track leading to Penmaen Uchaf; the farm at the south-eastern base of what was going to be our sixth hill of the day.  We decided to drive up the track and ask if we could park and visit the hill from the convenience of the farm, thankfully the framer said yes.

A green track led from the farmyard through a gate around the eastern side of the upper part of Moel y Penmaen.  To our north-east the nipple like summit of Mynydd Carnguwch stood out, monochromed against the grey sky with a lightened glimmer of sunlight piecing the greened fields in the foreground.

Heading for the summit

Mynydd Carnguwch

Leaving the green track it was only a short distance to the summit which consists of attractive patches of rock, with two vying for the high point of the hill.  I soon had the Trimble set up on what we both thought to be the highest, improvising by balancing the rear of the equipment on my glasses case to keep it horizontal.

Gathering data at the summit of Moel y Penmaen

All that remained was a second data set, this time taken from the small patch of rock that we considered lower, and as we had another hill to visit and time was pressing a two minute data set was taken, which according to Trimble is the minimum advised for an accurate result.

Gathering data at the second Trimble set-up position on Moel y Penmaen

Once the Trimble was packed away we followed our inward route down the hill and thanked the farmer for giving us permission to park and visit the hill from his farm and then headed off toward our last hill of the day; Cae Doctor (SH 304 399).

Survey Result:

Moel y Penmaen

Summit Height:  153.1m (converted to OSGM15, Trimble GeoXH 6000)

Summit Grid Reference:  SH 33804 38683 (Trimble GeoXH 6000)

Bwlch Height:  92.8m (LIDAR)

Bwlch Grid Reference:  SH 34629 39659 (LIDAR)

Drop:  60.3m (Trimble GeoXH 6000 summit and LIDAR bwlch)

Dominance:  39.39% (Trimble GeoXH 6000 summit and LIDAR bwlch)

For further details please consult the Trimble Survey Spreadsheet